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E♭ minor (E♭m) on guitar

The E♭ minor scale consists of the notes E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ and has 6 flats. Below you can see every usable note on the neck up to fret 15.

E♭ minorNatural minor scale

♪ Click a note on the fretboard to hear its sound.

E
B
G
D
A
E
0123•45•67•89•101112••131415•
Root noteOther notes
Click a note to hear it · frets 0–15

Chords in E♭ minor

Common progression: E♭m – C♭ – G♭ – D♭ (i–VI–III–VII).

Quick overview

Root note
E♭
Mode
minor
Key signature
6 flats
Pentatonic
E♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ D♭

Well-known songs in E♭ minor

  • Beat ItMichael Jackson
  • In the EndLinkin Park
  • SuperstitionStevie Wonder

Key of the original recording; live versions or covers may differ.

CAGED positions

With the CAGED system you play E♭m in five positions across the whole neck. Each shape connects to the next.

  • Dm shapearound fret 1 · root on D string, fret 1
  • Cm shapearound fret 3 · root on A string, fret 6
  • Am shapearound fret 6 · root on A string, fret 6
  • Gm shapearound fret 8 · root on low E string, fret 11
  • Em shapearound fret 11 · root on low E string, fret 11

Learn E♭ minor in 5 steps

  1. Step 1

    Find the root note E♭

    Find E♭ on the low E string (fret 11) and on the A string (fret 6). Play them alternately and say the name out loud. Every pattern below hangs off these two points.

  2. Step 2

    Play the main chords

    Learn the three most important chords: E♭m (i), A♭m (iv) and B♭m (v). Switch between them at a slow tempo until you can play through without stopping.

  3. Step 3

    Learn the pentatonic in box 1

    The minor pentatonic (E♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ D♭) is the first pattern to learn. Put your index finger around fret 11 and play two notes per string, from the low E to the high e and back.

  4. Step 4

    Extend to the full scale

    Add the two missing notes (F and C♭) in the same position. Now you're playing all seven notes of Es mineur: E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭.

  5. Step 5

    Improvise over a chord progression

    Record E♭m – C♭ – D♭ – E♭m (or ask someone to play it) and solo over it using box 1. End your phrases on E♭ and listen to how that "coming home" sounds.

Playing E♭ minor with a capo

Go to the capo guide

Solo tips for E♭ minor

  1. Start with the minor pentatonic scale (E♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ D♭). The best-known "box" pattern starts on the root E♭ on the low E string, fret 11.
  2. End your phrases on the root E♭ for a resolved feeling, or on the third G♭ and fifth B♭ for tension.
  3. Add the blue note B♭♭ as a passing note for a bluesy sound — don't linger on it too long.
  4. Over the B♭m chord (the v) deliberately play the notes of that chord to make the chord changes audible.
  5. Want a more classical, "Spanish" sound? Raise the 7th degree to D (harmonic minor), especially over the V chord.

Frequently asked questions about E♭ minor

Which notes are in Es mineur?

Es mineur (E♭m) consists of the notes E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭. The key signature has 6 flats.

Which chords fit Es mineur?

The diatonic chords in Es mineur are E♭m, Fdim, G♭, A♭m, B♭m, C♭, D♭. You can freely combine them; they all sound good within the key.

What is the relative key of Es mineur?

The relative key is . It uses exactly the same notes and key signature, just with a different tonal centre.

Which pentatonic scale do you use in Es mineur?

Use the minor pentatonic scale: E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, D♭. It avoids the "tricky" half-step intervals and almost always sounds good.

How do I find E♭ on the guitar neck?

You'll find the root E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 and on the A string at fret 6, among other places.